Device for cleaning guns



Feb. .4, 1930. l

DEVICE FOR CLEANING GUNS Filed Jan. 17, 1928 D. c. HOOKER n 1,745,575'

Patented Feb. 4, 1930 DUNCAN C. HOCKERQOF FAR-MINGTON, CONNECTICUT DEVICE Eon CLEANING GUNS Application yfiled. January 17, 1928. Serial No. 247,304.

This yinvention relates to a device for n cleaning or scrubbing and lubricating the barrels or bores of guns, and while 1t finds peculiar use in connection with shotguns and v the like, it may be employed for cleanin rifled firearms such as pistols or rifles.

'lfheraim ofthe invention is to kprovide means of this sort having various features of novelty and advantage.

, i 1o More particularly an aim of the invention is to provide an improved cleaner or scrubber by means ofl which the bores offirearms or guns may be quickly, thoroughly and properly cleaned and lubricated without any f l liability or danger of scratching or mutilating the gun or having the cleaning patch or any part of thecleaner stick or become lodged in therbore. Y y

My improved arrangement is such that the y ,20 bores 'of firearms may be simply and readily cleaned` throughout their length, the cleaning' patch being held throughout a substantial area'with that pressure which is most conducive toa quick and thorough cleaning action.' lThe deviceis adapted to accommodate itself to variations in the dimensions,

vcharacteristicsA and styles of gun bores of `the same nominal gauge. Also by preference V the arrangement is suchthat the 'pressure $0 with which the patch ymay be caused to bear against the wall of thebore may be varied.

`Other objectsy will be in part obvious and 'in part, pointed out more' in detail hereinafter.

,3.5 The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter-.set forth and the scope of the application of which will befindicated in the appended claims. f f

Inthe accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown several embodiments which the present invention maytake:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved cleaner in the actV of being inserted into the Vbore of'a shotgun;

Fig. `2 is ay longitudinal sectional. view showngthe' device'within the shell chamber of Athe gun f;-

yin place on the M Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; .e

Fig. 4 is a viewof a friction ring which is employed for holding the adjusting means in adjusted position; e e Y Fig. 5 is a front end view of the cleaning shell or plug before it is assembled on the stem; y

Fig. 6 is a side view of the stem;

Fig. 7 is a detail View taken substantially 60 on line 7-7 of Fig. 2, and showing the way in which the plug may be secured against rotation on the stem; 'y

Fig. -8 is a view similar ftoF ig. 2 but showing another embodiment ofthe invention, the cleaner being illustrated in the bore of the gun; and y Fig. 9 is a View of a modified form ofniy device which is particularly adapted for use in cleaning firearms of smaller sizes or gauges. According to the present invention, I provide a fabric or patch support (which for convenience andferminology is here termed a plug) having by preference a solid or rigid head or forwardend and a generally cylindrical portion which is longitudinally slit through a substantial distance in order to provide a pluralityk of spring or resilient leaves or fingers. The arrangement is such that as the patch applied to the plug increases in thickness, due to folding into the bore, the fingers may spring or yield to accommodate such increasing thickness and at the same time hold the fabric V0r cleaning 85 patch throughout4 a substantial area with the desired pressure against the wall of the bore of the firearm. In the'preferred em* bodimentofthe invention the resiliency of the plug or shell may be varied in order to S0 adjustk'the device in accordance with the characteristicsof the` particular ,s gun to be cleaned. k,The shell or plug is also by` preference provided with grooves and slits so arranged-that the'plug will not rotate and will 95 not move longitudinally with respect tothe patch, that is to say, the patch will be held plug during the cleaning operation. i I y f .f v

. Referring; Specelly. @that embedimeet 190 shown in Figs. 1 to 7, A denotes, generally, my improved plug or fabric carrier. This plug A is in the nature of a shell preferably formed of spring tempered steel. The fory ward end or head of the shellis by preference solid or rigid and is generally spherical or dome shaped. Extending rearwardly from the head is a cylindrical portion which is longitudinally split or slitted, as at 11, so as to provide a plurality of spring lingers or Y leaves 12. By preference, the interior bore of the plug is normally cylindrical, that is, of

` substantially uniform diameter throughout its length. The head 10, and by preference, the

forward end of the lingers of the ycylindrical portion of the shell are of reduced'diameter inV order to provide the des'ired'clearance for 'the patch and to ,render such portions substantially inactive insofar as holding the patch against the wallof the bore goes. 'The cylindrical portionjof the shell or plug may be provided with a plurality of circumferential grooves or channels 14, or to state the matter in a different way, the shell may be provided with Vcircumferential ribsr `the y corners of which are pronounced or square in u with an opening 21 which is polygonal or non-circular, and driving the stem into this opening in'such manner that the portion of the stem enteringthereinto will take the same size and shape of; andbe securely anchored in said opening. -The outer end of this opening is countersunl as at 17 ,Y and its'inner edges 18 provide relatively sharp corners. The forward end 22vof vthe stem 2() is reduced in diameter and isnormally'round in cross secf; tion; it being larger inV diameter than the minor diameter of thepolygon'al opening 21. Also by preference, thefend of the stem is slightly'chamfered so as to facilitate its entry intothe opening 21, and it has a counter-bore or recess 23. The stem isrelatively. softer thanA the head. ATo assemble thezs'temf and plug, thered'uced portion 22 is driven into the polygonal opening 21 with the result that the sharp corners 18 will cutthe're'duced portion of the" stem as it` enters? into the opening to the same cross sectional shape and size as the opening. Thus turningmovement between the stem and head is entirely prevented.

The rimv or edge ofthe' recess23 is then f e'iipandedfor peend overfso as-to prevent the stem from being pulled longitudinally out of the opening. The stem has intermediate its ends a shoulder 24, and has at its rear end a Vthreaded portion 25 adapted to receive the forward end of a ram rod 26. Only a portion Vof this rod 26'is illustrated as it may be of any ydesired or well known type.

By preference, my, improved cleaner or scrubber is provided with means whereby the resiliency or springpressurerwith which the lingers or leaveshold a patch against the bore Y vof the gun may be varied at will without, however, changing the size or normal shape of the plug or shell. Such a feature or element isdesirable in order that a plug or shell of a given size may be adjusted in accordance with the particular characteristics of the gun in connectionwith which it is to be used, it bezing a well known fact that guns of the same gauge, and in fact the barrels of the same gun of like gauge, vary inzcharacteristics, as for example in the extent-anddegree of the choke.- Byfmy improved arrangement any" desired amount of friction between the cleaning patch and the bore may behad.v For the purpose offaccomplishing such adjustment T provide, as shown in'Fig. 2, asleeve 30 longitudinally adjustable on the stem 20. This sleeve has, at itsforward end, an enlarged portion'inthe form of a collar' or rib 31 which is of substantially the same diameter as the bore'of the shelln or plug A. 'For the purpose c of frictionally holding the adjustable sleeve 3() in: any predetermined position of adjustment, Athe collar 31 may be providedwith a groove 32 within which is located a spring or split ring 33 adapted to press against the inner circumference ofthe shell or plug. The

rear end ofthe vstem 30 may-be knurledas at 34 in orderto provide a goodA grip. The

Aforward end of the sleeve Vhas an internal annular flange 35 adapted toV engage the shoulder 29 toprevent the sleeve from being with'V drawn from the stem.A

The manner in which the cleaning device shown invFigs. v1 to7is used will'be clear from the drawings, and yparticularly from Figs. l andV 2. The resiliency orf-stiffness of,

the lingers may be adjusted by longitudinally moving the sleeve 30 to the Vcorrect position.

A patch is placed over the shell or plug with the center of the patch againstthe forward rounded or tapered' end of therplug, or if de` sired, the patch'may'be held over the end of Vthe barrel,"as shown in Fig. 1, and' then the plug moved against the patchl and into lthe lbarrel in Vwhich event the patch will be forced vinto the barrel andlay. or fold itself about the plug. rrIyhe collar Blof the' stem 30 constitutes, soto speak, a fulcrum about which thel'tlngersspring-or flex. t'The vpatch will j retain its position uponk theplug irrespective of-fthe movement which is given tothe plug.

In-v the-'event that thev plug is inserted into Y Y the forward end of the barrel, asshown in Fig. 1, and then moved down into the chamber of the barrel, as shown in Fig. 2, the plug may be moved back into the bore'of the barrel Vwithout strippingthepatch from or disturb- .ing its relationto the plug. It is found of 'advantage to insert" the plug with the patch thereon into the barrel, and whileholding the barrel in anupright position, pour thereinto a cleaning fluid and thenwork the device vup and down so as to thoroughly scrub and cleanse the barrel.

The structure shown in Fig. 8 is generally similar to that shown in the preceding embodiment, yexcept that the arrangement of Fig. 8 is such that the pressure of the fingers may ybe adjusted while the plug is in the barrel. To this end the sleeve 30 instead of being slidably mounted on the steml is screwed thereonto. The sleeve is connected, in any suitable manner, to the ram rod 26 against rotation relative thereto, and for this purpose a pin may be employed.

vIt will be seen that by turning the ram rod, the position of thesleeveSO will be changed'. so as to vary the resiliency of the fingers of the plug.

' is of smaller diameter.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9, the

vmeans for adjusting the resiliency of the fingers is omitted. The structure shown in Fig. y9 isparticularly adapted for use in smaller size guns and may be employed for cleaning rifles or pistols. In this embodiment the plug A is directly connectedto the stem20. The plug A is similar to the plug of the preceding embodiments, except that it In the event that the device is made for cleaning pistols, rifles, revolvers orother firearms having a rifling, the plug may be arranged to swivel or rotate on the stem. y

It is apparent, ofcourse, that instead of l connecting my cleaner to a ram rod, it may be connected to a flexible member such as a wire or cable in which event the device would `be drawn through the barrel of the gun with the solid end l0 foremost; The cable would kbe threaded through the center of the patch.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitf ingk sense. n It isalso to be understood that the lanf guage used in the following claims is intended to'cover all of the generic and specific' features of the invention herein described and j all lstatements of the scope of the `invention v Which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Iclaim as my invention: l. A device vfor cleaning the bores of guns V constituting aplurality of uspring fingers each of said fingers being segmentalin cross sec-` tion.' f

2. A device for cleaning the bores lof guns having a rigid forward end adapted to receive the'center of thecleaning patch, and anormally cylindrical portion extending rearwardly therefrom and provided with longitudinal slits, the forw rd endv ofsaid device being of reduced diameter. v

3. yA device for cleaning the bores of guns having a rigid forward end adapted to receive the center of the cleaning patch, and a plurality of cylindrically arranged spring parti-cylindrical leaves extending rearwardly therefrom, said fingers being yprovided with gripping edges. I v

4. A device for cleaning the bores of guns having a dome shaped forward end adapted to receive the center ofthe cleaning patch, and a normally cylindrical portion extendingrearwardly therefrom and constituting a plurality of spring leaves, said cylindrical poi'- tion having annular grooves.

5. A device for cleaning the bores of guns having a rigid unobstructed forward endadapted to receive the center of the cleaning patch, and a normally cylindrical portion, ex-

` having a rigid unobstructed forward end adapted to receive the center of the cleaning patch, a plurality of parti-cylindrical spring fingers extending rearwardly therefrom, and means connected to said forward end for moving said device through the bores of guns.

7. A device for cleaning the bores of guns having a rigid unobstructed forward end adapted to receive the center of the cleaning patch, a normally cylindrical portion extending rearwardly therefrom and longitudinallyl slitted to provide a plurality of springfingers, and a stem connected to said forward end and adapted to be connected lto a ramrod or the like. ,Y f. f

S, A device for cleaning lthe bores of guns ,having a. rigid unobstructed dome shaped forward'end adapted to receive the center ofthe cleanlng patch, a normally` ,cylindrical porv,tion extending rearwardly therefrom and extending centrally throughsaidcylindrical 1 portion.

9. A device' for cleaning the bores of guns having a rigid unobstructed forward end adapted to receive the center vof the cleaning patch, ap-lurality of cylindrically arranged A 5 springy leavesI extending rearwardlyy therefrom, and means foradiusting the resiliency of said leaves Without changing the size of the device.

l0. A device for cleaning the bores of guns and adjustably mounted therein.

121A device for cleaning the bores of guns having a. rigid unobstructedg forward end adapted to receive the center of the cleaning 0 patch, a normally cylindricalportion entending rearwardly therefrom and longitudinally s'littedf to provide a plurality of spring fingers, 'a stein connected to said forward 'end and extending througli'said cylindrical portion,

Y' :5 `and a sleeve slidablymounted on said stern and `having a collar adapted to constitute awfulcrum for said fingers. l

13. A device for cleaning the bores of guns having a rigid unobstructed forward end patch, 'a normally cylindrical portion extending rearwardly therefrom and longitudinally 'slitted to provide a plurality of spring lingers,

a. stem connected to sai-'d forward end and enten-ding through said cylindrical portioma sleeve slidably ymounted on said stein and hava collar adapted to constitute a fulcrum for sai-dlingers, and a splitY ring carried by said sleeve and' 'frict-ionallyengaging said -0 cylindrical port-ion. p

14?. dev-ice' for cleaning the bores of guns h-avilng'a rigid unobstructed forvvardend ber of' substantially the same size as said bore.

adapted to receive the center of' the cleaning' tion extending rearwardly therefrom, ali-d -a stem, said rigid end having a polygonalopening andthe forward endof said stem being driven into and caused to take tliesanie shape and'size as said opening, ythe forward end of said stem having thestem in place; Y

DUNCAN C. HOOKER.

a peened over rib to secure havinga rigid unobstructed forward end adapted toY receive the center ofthe cleaning patch, anormally cylindrical portion extending rearwardly therefrom and longitudinally slitted tlofprovide a plurality of fingers, astem 'connected to said forwardendf and'extendin'g Athrough said cylindrical portion, aV sleeve threaded -on said-stemand havin-g a collar y'con'stlituting a fulcrum for said lingers,` and Y means: for cor-inectingfsaidy sleeve to a ramrod. l' 15.rk A device forcl'eaning the bores of guns having a rigid unobstructed forward end adapted to: receive tl'ie center of theclfeaning 65 patch, a longitudinally slitted cylindrical* porlOO 

